Pearl · Pearl MLX maple drum set · 1984 into the early 1990s
MLX was Pearl's maple lacquer kit, one of the Professional Series lines Pearl dates to 1984 alongside the GLX, MX, DLX and DX. The 1984 catalog offered it in two depths: the MLX-8500 Deep-Force, with toms and bass drum 2 inches deeper, and the conventional MLX-8300. The shells were six-ply maple, cross-laminated and heat-pressed, under lacquers like Wine Red, Walnut, Natural Maple and Black. MX was the same maple shell under a covered finish, and BLX the birch lacquer version. Every MLX and MX outfit in 1984 came with a steel Free Floating snare. By 1987 Pearl called the line Prestige Custom 8500, with high-tension lugs and new lacquers such as Charcoal Gray and Sequoia Red, and in 1991 it was still selling Prestige Custom MLX kits, now with a brass Free Floating snare. Wikipedia counts MLX among the predecessors of the Masters series, which arrived in 1993. The lacquer is the point of an MLX, so ask for close daylight photos of every drum. All of them should wear the same finish and the same Pearl All Maple Shell badge.
Inside the shellPearl MLX maple drum set
Pearl dates its Professional Series, MLX included, to 1984. In the 1984 catalog, outfit codes with a D (MLX-22D-60) are the 8500 Deep-Force depths and codes without one (MLX-22-60) the 8300. The 1984 lacquers were Wine Red, Walnut, Natural Maple and Black. By 1987 the line was Prestige Custom 8500 with high-tension lugs, Pearl All Maple Shell badges and new finishes including Piano Black, Charcoal Gray and Sequoia Red, and the 1991 catalog still lists Prestige Custom MLX kits.
Most wear shows in the lacquer, as edge chips, scratches and checking on a finish that's now 35 years old, plus touch-ups that don't match. Missing tom holders and drilled extra holes are the other common problems.
Buying guide
We'd buy the 1980s MLX all-maple kit with padded gig bags, the lowest ask here at $1,250, but shipping isn't stated and it comes with extra Ludwig toms, so get a freight quote and ask which drums are the Pearl kit. There are at least 3 MLX-era Pearls for sale and only one states shipping, so the $1,650–1,675 delivered band is a single listing and isn't a market read. That one is a Maple MX from Poland at $1,659 delivered, Pearl's covered-finish version of the same maple shells. On any of them, ask for close daylight photos of the lacquer and the badge on every drum, and confirm the TH-95 tom holder comes with it. The blue four-piece is from a 96.6% seller with no shipping stated, so check that seller first.
$1,250.00+ ship
The lowest ask here, a 1980s MLX all-maple kit with padded gig bags, but shipping isn't stated and it adds extra Ludwig toms. Get a freight quote and ask which drums are the Pearl MLX before you offer.
Pearl MLX All Maple Kit 1980's + Extra Ludwig Toms andPadded Gig Bags
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$1,250.00+ shipping
$1,250.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$1,250.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
1980s MLX plus extra Ludwig toms and gig bags. Shipping not stated. Photo shows only the bass drum.
Seller: duffman365
100% positive
Used$1,659.30est. delivered
$1,455.05 + $204.25 shipping
Buy It Now$1,455.05
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Maple MX, the covered version of the MLX shell. Titled pre-MLX, though Pearl's 1984 catalog lists both. Ships from Poland.
Seller: mk-drums
100% positive
Used$1,350.00+ shipping
$1,350.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$1,350.00
Check the seller
Seller feedback 96.6%. Blue four-piece, shipping not stated. Photo has a graphic background, so ask for photos of the actual kit.
Seller: antlodi-0
96.6% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 12, 2026.
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